4.5 stars
The Lost Man is a mystery set in a wild outback region of Queensland. At a landmark known as the Stockman’s Grave, the body of a man is found; it appears that his last desperate few hours were spent following the shade from the landmark.
Cam Bright was due to meet his brother Bub at a radio mast, where together they planned to make some necessary repairs; his truck was fully stocked with food and water, so why was it found nine kilometres away from Cam’s body? This is a distance too far to have travelled by foot in the heat and desert conditions, and nowhere near the mast.
Nathan Bright has been estranged from his family and the townsfolk for years after a fateful choice which left his father-in-law on the side of the road. But the death of his brother has made him question all that he once believed. Brought back to the family home by Christmas and the death of his brother, Nathan pieces together Cam’s last hours and discovers a nest of family secrets.
There’s something about the harsh landscape of Australia’s interior that fascinates me; just the raw skills needed to survive are enough to strike fear into most, but I can understand the call of the vast open space. Once again Harper successfully portrays the setting and the people making them believable and intriguing. Another good book from this author.
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Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelenting sun of outback Queensland, in this stunning new standalone novel from New York Times bestseller Jane Harper
They are at the stockman’s grave, a landmark so old, no one can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family’s quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did he lose hope and walk to his death? Because if he didn’t, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects…
Rosie Amber 
An excellent review
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I loved this book as well, Rosie. And I know what you mean about Australia.
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This is one book I am looking forward to reading – hence why I snaffled up a bargain copy at a book sale recently. I mentioned it in a recent post and had a comment from an Australian reader that it doesn’t accurately portray the outback. Interesting to hear that because elsewhere it’s the authenticity of the setting that has been mentioned as a positive feature of this author. never having been to the outback I can’t judge which is right
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I’ve done a small bit of traveling in Australia and when I was at the red centre the life sucking heat and relentless sun were something to respect. It depends what you expect from the story, it is a mystery in a harsh setting, is it about the outback? Yes and no.
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